High prevalence of GBV-C hepatitis G virus infection in a rural South African population

A novel virus, GBV-C/hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV), has been cloned and characterised recently. GBV-C/HGV global epidemiology and risk factors for acquisition are currently unclear. We aimed to establish the determinants of this infection in a rural South African (SA) population. The study population included two samples, namely a community-based sample, and consenting persons from a nonspecialist outpatient department in the same district. A questionnaire regarding demographic details and putative risk factors was administered; blood samples were taken on which a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for both 5′NCR and NS5a regions of GBV-C/HGV using commercially available primers and probes. Two hundred and forty-nine people were studied with a mean GBV-C/HGV prevalence of 10.4%. Outpatient department and community prevalences differed significantly (18.0% and 6.3%, respectively, P = 0.004). GBV-C/HGV infection was associated with excessive alcohol consumption (P = 0.02; OR, 4.18) and a lack of waterborne sewerage (P = 0.04). PCR amplification of the NS5a region of all but two South African GBV-C/HGV positive samples showed poor reactivity. The prevalence of GBV-C/HGV in rural SA appears to be higher than that reported from Europe and North America. Infection appeared to be associated with excess alcohol intake and a history of previous blood transfusions. The discrepant NS5a and 5′NCR PCR sensitivity in this study raises the possibility of genetic differences in southern African GBV-C/HGV. J. Med. Virol. 53:225–228, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

High prevalence of GB-C/hepatitis G virus in a Brazilian population with helminth infection

A study of GB-C virus/Hepatitis G virus (GBV-C/HGV) infection was carried out in a rural population of Northeastern Brazil, in which the prevalence of schistosomiasis is 80–90%. Despite the absence of parenteral risk exposure, the prevalence of GBV-C/HGV markers of infection was found to be unusually increased: viremia, 16.4%; specific antibody, 18.3%. It is therefore suspected that helminth infection influenced the immune response to GBV-C/HGV infection by shifting the balance of cytokine responses from Th1 to Th2, resulting in a delayed viral clearance. Phylogenetic analysis of viral isolates did not provide evidence for high rates of sexual or mother-to-infant viral transmission. The study revealed that viral strains belonged to types 1 and 2 only (predominant in Africa and Europe, respectively), suggesting that GBV-C/HGV was introduced into the New World by white conquerors and black slaves since the 16th century. J. Med. Virol. 56:310–315, 1998 . © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

上海市不同人群HGV和TTV感染状况调查

[目的]了解上海市一般人群和高危人群中HGV和TTV的感染状况。[方法]采用整群随机抽样方法挑选一般人群和高危人群进行问卷调查,并采用ELISA方法检测血清抗-TTVIgM、抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG。[结果]本市一般人群抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG的阳性率分别为20.9%和37.5%;血透患者抗-TTVIgM、抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG的阳性率分别为:26.2%、24.6%和41.5%;性病患者抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG的阳性率分别为:19.8%和24.2%;慢性肝炎患者抗-TTVIgM、抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG的阳性率分别为:47.0%、33.3%和45.5%;急性肝炎患者抗-TTVIgM、抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG的阳性率分别为:41.7%、25.0%和25.0%;医务人员抗-TTVIgG和抗-HGVIgG的阳性率分别为4.4%和23.3%。[结论]本市一般人群和高危人群存在水平不等的HGV和TTV感染。     

血液透析尿毒症患者肝炎病毒感染的研究

目的 观察尿毒症血液透析患者乙型,丙型,庚型肝炎病毒感染情况,以及此三型肝炎病毒（ＨＣＶ）多重感染的情况,并探讨其感染的相对危险因素。方法 对３００例血液透析患者的单份血清共３００份,进行ＨＢｓＡｂ,ＨＢｓＡｇ,ＨＢｅＡｂ,ＨＢｃＡｂ,ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ,ａｎｔｉ－ＨＣＶ,ＨＣＶ－ＲＮＡ的检测,并随机抽取其中的４０份血清以逆转录－巢式ＰＣＲ方法检测ＨＧＶ－ＲＮＡ,以酶联免疫吸附试验方法检测ＨＧＶ抗体（     

肝细胞癌患者庚型肝炎病毒的感染

 目的：探讨庚型肝炎病毒感染与肝癌的关系。方法：检测128例肝细胞癌(HCC)患者和55例健康对照者血清中庚型肝炎病毒抗体(Anti-HGV),另外采用ELISA法检测本实验检出18例Anti-HGV+血清的乙肝表面抗原(HBsAg)和丙肝抗体(Anti-HCV)。结果：Anti-HGV阳性率分别为12.5%(16/128)和36%(2/55),两者差异显著(P<0.01)。18例Anti-HGV+血清中,HBsAg阳性率77.7%(14/18),Anti-HGV阳性率22.2%(4/18)。表明HGV、HBV、与HCV有重叠感染现象。结论：提示广西地区HCC病毒致癌因素中,HGV感染可能是仅次于HBV及HCV的又一重要因素。     

Higher detection rate of hepatitis G and C virus RNA in liver tissue than in serum of deceased injection drug users

To examine the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in deceased injection drug users and for comparison of the detection rates of HGV and HCV RNA in liver tissue with detection rates in postmortem serum samples, RT-PCR was performed in 50 drug abuse-related fatalities. HGV RNA was detectable in liver tissue samples from 17/50 suddenly deceased drug abusers (34%). In 16 of these 17 positive cases, serum samples were also available but HGV RNA was detected in only 10. From 29/50 anti-HCV positive individuals, HCV RNA was detected in 23/50 liver tissue samples (46%), but HCV RNA was detectable in only 6/22 of the corresponding serum samples. In 12 anti-HCV positive cases (10 being also positive for HCV RNA in the liver), the examinations revealed a coinfection with HGV by detection of HGV RNA in the liver tissue samples. A significant association between the detection of HCV RNA in the liver and the occurrence of antibodies against the HCV NS4 protein, but not against HCV core antigen or NS3 protein was observed. The probability of anti-HCV and HCV RNA positivity increased with the age of the individuals. No HGV or HCV infection was detected in a control group of 50 persons who died suddenly by violent impact. The prevalence of active HCV and HGV infections in injection drug users detected by RT-PCR in liver tissue is in good accordance with data obtained from sera from living injection drug users. In contrast, the detection rate in postmortem serum samples was clearly lower. Possible reasons for this observation are discussed and the use of liver tissue for postmortem detection of hepatitis virus RNA is recommended. Received: 4 February 1998 / Received in revised form: 22 April 1998     

HEPATITIS G VIRUS INFECTION IN MULTITRANSFUSED EGYPTIAN CHILDREN

The purpose of this study was to identify the magnitude of the hepatitis G virus infection in 33 multitransfused cases and 20 matched controls. All were tested for liver biochemical profile, HBsAg, HCV-antibody, HGV-RNA, and antibody to envelop protein E₂. HGV was detected alone in 61% of the multitransfused cases and 15% of the controls. Hepatitis markers were negative in 21% of cases versus 70% of controls. HGV envelope antibody was detected in 12% of cases, and none of controls. Mean values of transaminases in HGV positives and negatives showed no significant differences. HGV infection is highly prevalent in Egyptian children with no impact in infected cases.     

Hepatitis GB virus C genome in the serum of aplastic anaemia patients receiving frequent blood transfusions

GB virus C (GBV-C) RNA was detected in five of 18 patients with aplastic anaemia who had received blood transfusions, whereas it was not detected in eight patients who had not received any transfusions. Antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was detected in nine patients in the transfusion group, compared with one of eight who had not received any transfusions. Therefore, the route of transmission of both GBV-C and HCV in these patients appeared to have been multiple blood transfusion. Since all of the GBV-C RNA-positive patients harboured anti-HCV, GBV-C seems to frequently superinfect with HCV. Neither GBV-C nor HCV is likely to have been a causative agent of the anaemia in the cases examined.     

Hepatitis G virus infection in Japanese haemophiliacs

The recently identified hepatitis G virus (HGV) (also known as GB virus-C) has been considered as a blood-transmissible agent. As many haemophiliacs have risk factors for infectious agents, to clarify the frequency of HGV infection is important. HGV-RNA was investigated in 77 Japanese haemophiliacs who had been treated with nonvirus-inactivated concentrates derived from pooled plasma. Detection of HGV-RNA was performed with a nested RT-PCR that recognizes the 5'-NCR of the HGV genome. HGV-RNA was detected in 19 (24.7%), including four (21.0%) infected with HGV alone, 12 (63.2%) co-infected with HCV and three (15.8%) who were HBV carriers. The patients infected with HGV alone showed a normal ALT level of 18.7 ± 4.1 IU L⁻¹. Most (36/37, 97.3%) of the patients with abnormal ALT levels had HCV-RNA. Patients infected with HCV alone or co-infected with HCV and HGV showed higher ALT levels of 108.8 ± 90.2 IU L⁻¹ ( n = 39) and 67.6 ± 62.6 IU L⁻¹ ( n = 11), respectively. However, there was no significant difference ( P = 0.16) in ALT levels between HCV infection alone and HCV/HGV co-infection. On the other hand, four of the patients who could be followed over 10 years showed HGV-RNA persistently. In two who underwent liver biopsy, the histological evidence showed no definitive fibrotic and necro-inflammatory changes. These results indicate that HGV infection has frequently occurred in haemophiliacs. It is possible that HGV infection does not cause aggressive hepatitis with elevated ALT levels, and that co-infection with HGV may not aggravate hepatitis caused by HCV.